Volleyball Travels To Texas Tech Saturday

After suffering a 3-2 setback to No. 17 Kansas State Wednesday, Kansas volleyball (7-7, 1-4 Big 12) looks to stop a three-match skid, all against ranked opponents, when it travels to Texas Tech (5-11, 0-5 Big 12) Saturday for a 7 p.m. match with the Red Raiders.

Free live stats are available on Texas Tech’s athletic website at www.texastech.com. In addition, fans can access live video streaming on the website for a subscription fee.

About Kansas

Coming off three straight losses to ranked opponents, Kansas is 7-7 overall and 1-4 in Big 12 play with its lone conference win coming in a five-set come-from-behind win versus Iowa State on Sept. 20. The Kansas offense is led by sophomore Karina Garlington, who is third in the Big 12 with 3.89 kps. Also listed in the conference leaders chart is freshman setter Nicole Tate who comes in at number seven with 9.83 aps. Since the start of Big 12 matches, Savannah Noyes, a senior middle blocker, has led the team with a .290 hitting percentage, up from her .183 attacking efficiency in non-conference action. Also developing into a big contributor since the start of conference action is junior Melissa Grieb. Grieb is coming off a career-high five service aces against Kansas State as she moved into tenth in the Big 12 rankings with 0.30 aces per set in conference matches. Grieb is digging up 2.22 balls per set behind sophomore Melissa Manda, who leads the team with 3.04 dps.

Head coach Ray Bechard is in his 11th season as head coach of the Jayhawks with a168-151 overall record.

Scouting Texas Tech

Still looking for its first Big 12 win of the 2008 season, Texas Tech is 0-5 in conference action and 5-11 overall coming off a 3-0 loss to No. 2 Nebraska on Wednesday to extend a three-match losing streak. Two Raiders are averaging over two kills per set in freshman Amanda Dowdy (2.83 kps) and senior Brandi Hood (2. 55 kps), who is a native of Hutchinson, Kan. Dowdy is also seventh in the Big 12 hitting a .348 attack percentage, though she has only hit .294 in Big 12 play. Caroline Witte, a junior, runs the Tech offense setting up 8.16 aps and has a team-high 21 service aces, while ranking sixth in the league with 0.37 aces per set. On defense, junior Jenn Harrell is tops on the team with 2.65 dps. Five more Red Raiders chip in over a dig per set.

Texas Tech is coached by Nancy Todd who has a 56-111 overall record with the Red Raiders.

Series History

Kansas trails the all-time series with Texas Tech, 15-10. The Jayhawks won both meetings in 2007, though the Red Raiders swept the series in 2006. Prior to that, the teams split, each taking a win on their home court. Kansas has won seven of the last 10 outings against Texas Tech. Included in those seven wins are six sweeps.

Cracking the Career Charts

Senior Savannah Noyes needs just one more solo block to crack KU’s top 10 career blocks list. Noyes, who currently has 48 career solo rejections, will tie 2007 senior Emily Brown with her next unassisted block.

Seeing Doubles

Freshman setter Nicole Tate recorded her team-high third double-double of the season Wednesday against Kansas State. The St. Louis, Mo., native had 43 assists along with a career-best 14 digs against the Wildcats. It is her first double-double since playing at Wyoming on Sept. 12.

Early Indicator

Despite winning its first set against No. 17 Kansas State, the Jayhawks fell 3-2. It marked the first time this season that KU won its first set but lost the match.

Garlington in Nation’s Top 40

In the latest NCAA statistics (through games on Sept. 29), sophomore Karina Garlington is 37th in the nation averaging 3.94 kps. Garlington has reached as high as 16th in the NCAA statistics.

Up Next

Kansas returns home to face Texas A&M on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. inside the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.